Metal extrusion press container



Sept. 23, 1958 A. A. ZANDEL ETAL METAL EXTRUSION PRESS CONTAINER Filed Dec.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS ADAM A. ZANDEL HORST H. GROOS AGENT Sept. 23, 1958 A. A. ZANDEL ET AL METAL EXTRUSION PRESS CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed D ec. 30, 1957 FIG. 2.

INVENTORS ADAM A. ZANDEL HORST H. GROOS BY AGENT Sept. 23, 1958 A. A. ZANDEL ETAL METAL EXTRUSION PRESS CONTAINER Filed Dec.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS ADAM A. ZANDEL HORST H. GROOS AGENT.

United States Patent METAL EXTRUSION PRESS CONTAINER Adam A. Zandel, Forest Hills, and Horst H. Groos, Malverne, N. Y., assignors to Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Corporation, a corporation of Pennsylvania Appiication December30, 1957, Serial N 0. 7 06,205

8 Claims. (Cl. 219-36) This invention relates to containers for metal extrusion presses, and more particularly to billet containers for the hot extrusion of metals and metal alloys.

The copending application of Gerhard P. Krause, Serial No. 393,030, for Extrusion Press Container, filed November 19, 1953, now Patent No. 2,820,132, issued January 14, 1958, discloses a billet container having an outer casing which is composed of a plurality of rings and provided with circumferential cavities between the rings. Each of the cavities accommodates an independent temperature control element, e. -g., a heating element. Such arrangement facilitates the manufacture of large containers, increases the strength thereof by avoiding longitudinal holes as used in conventional containers to accommodate heating elements, and permits very satisfactory heat distribution along the length of the assembly in that the individual temperature control elements may be operated in response to conditions in the respective zone, whereby localized overheating and resulting distortions will be avoided, particularly in the central region of the container. The temperature control elements may be operated automatically by means of temperature responsive elements such as thermocouples.

It is one of the principal objects of this invention to provide additional improvements in metal extrusion press containers of the foregoing and other types and to increase the strength thereof beyond the degree achieved heretofore.

It is also an object of the invention to reinforce the container against the action of axial thrust and, at the same time, to provide convenient means for the mounting or" temperature control elements.

It is another object of the invention to permit the use of conventional electric heating elements in rod form, though avoiding the provision of longitudinal holes in the container casing.

It is a further object of the invention to improve the strength of container casings by eliminating certain unsymmetrical discontinuities therefrom, such as holes for thermocouples, as well as keyways, which when present give rise to the formation of stress concentrations.

Various other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention by way of example,

Fig. 1 shows a billet container in section taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a view, partly in section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of a detail on a larger scale;

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged sections taken along lines 4-4 and 5'-5 of Fig. 3, respectively;

Fig. 6 is an exploded sectional view of a further detail on a reduced scale;

Fig. 7 shows a portion of Fig. 1 on a larger scale:

Fig. 8 is an isometric view of another detail.

Referring to the drawings, the extrusion press container illustrated therein comprises an inner tubular member generally indicated at 10 and an outer casing generally indicated at 12. In the example shown, the inner member 10 consists of a tubular liner 14 and a tubular liner holder 16 shrunk upon the liner 14. The casing 12 is composed of a series of intermediate rings 18 and terminal rings 19 positioned side by side along the length of, and shrunk upon, the inner tubular member 10. As indicated at 22, the rings 18, 19 contact each other to form a continuous body where they embrace the liner holder 16. The wall thickness of the rings is reduced somewhat outside the areas of contact 22 so as to obtain lateral surfaces 24 (Fig. 7) facing each other. Each pair of adjacent surfaces 24 form a circumferential cavity 26 positioned between the rings and extending from the outer periphery of the casing inwardly to the respective contact area 22 which is closely adjacent the liner holder 16. During operation, a heated billet 30 (Fig. 1) is positioned in the liner 14 and thereafter, a pressing stem or punch 32 cooperating with a dummy block 34 is moved forward to extrude the billet material through a die 36 supported on a platen indicated at 38. The parts described so far correspond substantially to the copending application Serial No. 393,030.

When so-called stickers are encountered, that is, billets which have cooled down too far to allow extrusion, the die 36 must be removed and the billet expelled from the container into the opening 40 of the platen. As a sticker adheres strongly to the walls of the liner, the container will be forced against the platen under great pressure when the stem 32 is advanced. It is desirable to bring the entire lateral face of the container into contact with the platen during such operation. If this is done, however, the axial thrust will act not only on the inner tubular member 10 but also on the ring 19 shown at the right hand side in Fig. 1. To reinforce the container assembly for such operation as well as for similar unfavorable conditions, the invention provides spacer means in the form of segments 50, 51 which fill the cavities 26 to a large extent and, at the same time, serve to accommodate temperature control elements as will now be described.

As best shown in Fig. 3, each spacer segment 50 has elongated, slot-like openings 54 through its wall. The openings 54 and their surfaces 56 extend substantially radially of the container when the segment is mounted therein. Holes or openings 58, 59 in the segment form continuations of the openings 54 in the radial direction. The end faces 62 of each segment are provided with recesses 64, 65, 66 which cooperate with corresponding recesses in adjacent segments to establish configurations similar to those obtained by the openings 54, 58, 59. Arranged in the openings 54, 58, 59 and recesses 64, 65, 66 are temperature control elements such as electric resistance heaters 70 (Fig. 2) of the rod type which are secured to the segment 50 at 72. If desired, each of the heaters may comprise three separate coils or rods for connection to a source of 3-phase current. The heaters 70 are spaced from the walls 56 of the segments to accommodate reflector shields generally indicated at 74 (Figs. 7 and 8). Each shield has a base 75 which fits the respective heater closely and is held by friction thereon. Upright wings 76 of the shields are positioned so that they deflect heat rays from the spacer segments to reduce the amount of heat absorbed by the segments. The wings 76 also assist in directing heat rays through the openings 54 to the adjacent rings 18 or 19 which will conduct heat directly to the inner tubular member 10.

Each segment 50 is further provided with a straight hole 80 (Fig. 3) therethrough, a hole 81 of limited depth, an inclined hole 82 (Fig. 4) terminating at one side of the segment, and an inclined hole 53 (Fig. terminating at the other side of the segment. The holes 80 to '83 accommodate temperature responsive elements such as thermostat elements or thermocouples 86, 87, '88, 89 (Fig. 2) which are arranged to respond to the temperatures of liner holder to, segment 50 proper, and adjacent rings 1% or 19, respectively.

The segments 51 are generally similar to the segments 5t) but are not provided with holes for the mounting of thermocouples. Each of the segments 50, 51 with its electric elements therein represents a unit which can easily be mounted in and removed from the container. Six segments, that is, one segment 56 and five segments 51, form a set fitting one of the cavities 26. When inserted in the container the segments bear at their inner ends against shoulders 92 (Fig. 7) on the surfaces 24. Each set of six segments is held in position by means of a split ring 94 (Fig. 2) which is equipped with blocks 96 and tightened at 98 to retain the segments firmly. The surfaces 24 of rings 13, 19 have recesses 99 to accommodate the split rings 94, and blocks 96, the segments 50, 5.1. terminating at the inner ends of the recesses 99.

As the Wall thickness of the segments 5% 51 corresponds to the width of the cavities 26 in the region between shoulders 92 and recesses 99 of the rings 18, 19, the segments are in eifective engagement with the surfaces 24 of adjacent rings 18 or 19 and contact the major portion of said surfaces to stay the rings and transmit axial thrust acting upon a terminal ring, to the other rings. Thus, all the rings 18, 19 will participate in sustaining axial thrust and the stresses will be distributed more evenly. It should be noted that simple covers slightly protruding into the cavities 26 but not extending into the heating Zone would not be adapted to transmit appreciable thrust.

Due to the provision of the blocks 96, there is ample space between the retaining rings 94 and segments 50, 51 to accommodate electric connections (not shown) for the heaters and thermocouples. The connections are preferably such that the heating elements in each cavity 26 represent an independent system which is automatically operated by the respective thermocouple 86 and in addition is provided with a manual cut-off switch, generally as described in the copending application Serial No. 393,030, now Patent No. 2,820,132. The thermocouples 87, 8'8, 89 may be connected to recording instruments so that the temperatures in various parts of the containers may be checked closely and individual heating systems disconnected by the operator if required, or the arrangement may be such that individual heating systems are dis connected automatically when temperature differences in certain parts of the container exceed a predetermined limit.

Both terminal rings 19 are somewhat smaller in diameter than the intermediate rings 18 to fit a holder (not shown). It is usual to mount the container in such holder by means of keys to allow free heat expansion while maintaining a predetermined position of the axis of the container. The required keyways which extend in the longitudinal direction of the container have heretofore been formed in the container casing proper where they cause high stress concentrations. According to the invention, each of the terminal rings 19 is provided with a circumferential groove 1% which is positioned between peripheral surfaces 192 and 104 of the ring, the diameter of the surface lit-tbeing preferably smaller than that of the surface 102. The grooves 10% are fitted with rings generally indicated at lliltt and split as shown in Fig. 6. The rings lllii have portions 112 of substantial thickness where keyways TM are provided, and where holes 116 are located to accommodate screws 118 engaging nuts 12-h which serve to tighten the keyway rings tilt) and pull them around the casing 12 into firm engagement therewith. Intermediate the portions 112, the keyway rings lit) have thinner portions 122 to yield readily when the container expands due to internal pressure or due to an increase in temperature.

It will be clear that the arrangement described is of great advantage. As set forth hereinbefore, the spacer segments 50, 51 transmit axial thrust to all rings 18, l) of the casing and at the same time serve as convenient carriers of the heating elements. Further, the radial direction of the openings 54 permits the use of standard electric heating elements of the rod type without providing longitudinal holes extending through the entire length of the container. Such longitudinal holes are not only difficult to drill but also Weaken the container considerably. Another advantage resides in the fact that the spacer segments are adapted to accommodate the thermo couples, which eliminates the necessity of drilling holes therefor in the casing proper as done heretofore. in view thereof, a relatively large number of thermocouples may be provided in each cavity 26 for close temperature control. As all the holes for thermocouples are positioned in the spacer segments, the number of unsymmetric discontinuities in the casing is reduced as compared with previous arrangements. A further reduction in the number of such discontinuities in the casing proper is ob tained by means of the rings as they accommodate the keyways 114. This leads to a substantial decrease in stress concentrations in the casing so that the strength qualities of the container are greatly improved.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, it will be understood that various modifications andchanges may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A container for a metal extrusion press, comprising an inner tubular member for receiving a billet to be extruded, an outer casing mounted on said inner member and composed of a series of rings positioned side by side along the length of said member, each pair of adjacent surfaces of said rings being formed to provide a circum ferential cavity between the respective rings extending from the outer periphery of the casing inwardly toward a point closely adjacent said inner member, spacer means positioned in said cavities and engaging said adjacent surfaces of the rings, said spaced means having openings therein, and temperature control elements positioned in said openings of the spacer means.

2. A container as specified in claim 1, in which each of the terminal rings of said series carries a split ring, said split rings having keyways therein extending in the longitudinal direction of the container.

3. A container for a metal extrusion press, comprising an inner tubular member for receiving a billet to be extruded, an outer casing mounted on said inner member and composed of a serie of rings positioned side by side along the length of said member, each pair of adjacent surfaces of said rings being formed to provide a circumferential cavity between the respective rings extending from the outer periphery of the casing inwardly toward a point closely adjacent said inner member, spacer segments positioned in said cavities and engaging said adjacent surfaces of the rings, said spacer segments having openings therein disposed substantially radially of the container, and temperature control elements positioned in said openings of the spacer segments.

4. A container for a metal extrusion press, comprising an inner tubular member for receiving a billet to be extruded, an outer casing mounted on said inner member and composed of a series of rings positioned side by side along the length of said member, each pair of adjacent surfaces of said rings being formed to provide a circumferential cavity between the respective rings extending from the outer periphery of the casing inwardly toward a point closely adjacent said inner member, spacer means positioned in said cavities and engaging said adjacent surfaces of the rings, said spacer means having openings therein and holes spaced from said openings, temperature control elements positioned in said openings, and temperature responsive elements positioned in said holes.

5. A container for a metal extrusion press, comprising an inner tubular member for receiving a billet to be extruded, an outer casing mounted on said inner member and composed of a series of rings positioned side by side along the length of said member, each pair of adjacent surfaces of said rings being formed to provide a circumferential cavity between the respective rings extending from the outer periphery of the casing inwardly toward a point closely adjacent said inner member, spacer means positioned in said cavities and engaging said adjacent surfaces of the rings, said spacer means having openings therein, heating elements positioned in said openings in spaced relation to portions of the walls thereof, and heat reflector means intermediate said heating elements and wall portions for deflecting heat rays from said spacer means.

6. A container for a metal extrusion press, comprising an inner tubular member for receiving a billet to be extruded, means mounted on and embracing the inner tubular member, said means having holes therein extending substantially radially of the container from the outer periphery of said means inwardly toward a region closely adjacent said inner tubular member, and electric heating elements positioned in said substantially radially extending holes.

7. A container for a metal extrusion press, comprisng an inner tubular member for receiving a billet to be extruded, an outer casing mounted on said inner member and having a circumferential groove adjacent each of its ends, split rings positioned in said grooves and having keyways therein, and means for causing said split rings to engage said casing tightly.

8. A container as specified in claim 7, in which the split rings have portions of a wall thickness sutficient to accommodate said keyways, and thinner intermediate portions to yield readily upon expansion of said casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 811,196 Benjamin Jan. 30, 1906 1,703,300 Daniel Feb. 26, 1929 2,820,132 Krause Jan. 14, 1958 

